Airplane runway



June 8, 1943.

G. G. GREULICH 2,321,197

AIRPLANE RUNWAY Filed July 25, 1941 PIE. 1.

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Patented June 8, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,321,191 AIRPLANE RUNWAY Gerald G. Grenlich, Mount Lebanon, Pa. Application July 25, 1941, Serial No. 404,085

2 Claims.

This invention relates to airplane runways of the general type described in my co-pending applications Serial Nos. 345,21! and 345,218, both of which were filed on July 12, 1940, and entitled Portable deck, it being stated in each instance that the device could also be used for the storage and handling of freight, paving for vehicular traffic, etc.

The devicesof the co-pending applications referred to are composed of a plurality of connected plates provided on their connected edges with interlocking devices which are constructed and arranged for quick detachability. According to such construction there is provided means for ready erection and dismantling of the device.

Another type of airplane runway is composed of a plurality of open grid mats, said mats being connected both longitudinally and transversely.

of the runway. When employed as airplane run-. ways, open grid types of mats frequently prove troublesome, due to'a tendency to twist about the centers of the longitudinal joints, or jack-knife" and thus form a series of valleys and ridges. This condition results in the loosening and tearing apart of the units.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide an airplane runway composed of longitudinally and transversely connected open grid types of mats which are highly resistant to the loosening. and tearing apart of the component units thereof.

Another object is the provision of a device of the class described which is relatively easy and inexpensive to manufacture, erect and dismantle.

Still another object is the provision of an airplane landing mat of the type described, of a longitudinal joint which permits only a small degree of rotation thereat, while at the same time developing the full moment strength of the projecting 'ends of the transverse channels.

The foregoing and other objects will be apparent after referring to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan of the device of the present invention.

2'and 3 are sectional viewsonthe lines II1I and III-11! of Figures 1 and 2 respectively. v I

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line IV-IV of Figure 1.

1 Figures 5 and 6 are schematic views illustrating the manner in which the longitudinally extending members of the airplane runway are opened to permit the mats or units to be separated.

Referring more particularly to the drawing,

I the numeral 2 designates a series of spaced parsection,

any desired cross section,

\ secured by welds I.

allel transverse mat elements which-may be of shown in the present instance as being channel-shaped, but permissively being square, I-shaped, L-shaped, Y- shaped, round, semi-round, tubular.

The spaced parallel transverse mat elements 2 are held together by a series of spaced parallel lcngitudinally extending members 4 through which the ends of the members 2 extend, being welded thereto as shown at 5. In the present instance the longitudinally-extending members 4 are shown as being channel-shaped in cross with the flanges occupying substantially horizontal positions, the spaced parallel transverse members 2 extending through and projecting from the web portions thereof.

The ends of the spaced parallel longitudinally extending members 4 may, if desired, be provided with boundary angle bars 6, to which they are The primary object o to provide a series of in which there is minimum rotation at the .connections, and in which the connection is stronger than the mats or units themselves. That is to the present invention 'is say, the longitudinal joints between conventional met or units tend to twist about their centers, or

' jack-knife, and irrespective of the type of fastening, such units loosen and tear apart. This rotation about the joints causes the assembled structure to form a series of valleys and ridges.

According to the teachings of the present invention, ments 2 are in overlapping relation and so held together that there is permitted only a small degree of rotation at the joint, while at the same time developing practically the full moment strength of the projecting ends of the transverse mat elements.

In order to provide the foregoing advantages, the spaced parallel transverse, mat elements 2 extend eachend through the web of a longitudinally-extending channel member 4 and pro- 'ject therefrom for a substantial distance. The

webs of the channel members 4 are so disposed with respect to the spaced parallel transverse-mat elements 2 that the legs of the said channels extend toward the edges of the said mat elements.-

According to this construction the longitudinal edges of mats or units may be so assembled that the transverse members 2 thereof project toward and seat in the U defined by the channel 5 of the opposite mat or unit, assuming, of course, that the spaced parallel transverse mat elements 'tubular, or partially connected mats or units the spaced parallel transverse mat ele- 2 of the opposed mats or units are staggered respect to each other. When in this position it will be seen that but little rotation is permitted developed the full moment strength of the pro- Jecting endsof the spaced parallel transverse mat elements 2 which is enhanced by the confinement afiorded by the U channels 4 forming the interlocking elements.

When the mats or units are damaged, one may be replaced without disturbing those lying in adjacency with respect thereto, except for the necessity of bending with a suitable implement the upper leg of the channel 4 thereof. This is shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. Thus there is permitted the lifting out of one mat or unit, as the projecting ends of the spaced parallel transverse mat elements will not clear the upper leg of the channel, of the boundaryof the next adjacent mat or unit. This movement, however, is arrested by the lower leg of the channel 4 of the mat or unit being removed; but this can be taken care of in a similar manner by bending downwardly the lower leg of the channel, whereby theleg of the channel will be permitted to clear the extremities of the spaced parallel transverse mat elements of the adjacent mats or units.

It is to be understood that the essence of the present invention concerns the interlocking relationship of the staggeredspaced parallel transverse mat elements which slightly telescope to which they extend with the extent indicated. Any conventional forms of additional fastening tudinal joints and also the transverse Joints may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention.

While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of the present invention, it will be seen that'I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A portable deckcomprising a plurality of connected mats adapted for rapid attachment and detachment, each of said mats comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements, the ends of said spaced parallel elements being connected by an outwardly facing channel member through and project, the spaced parallel elements of one mat being adapted to extend into the channel of the next adjacent mat.

2. .A portable deck comprising a plurality of I connected mats adapted for rapid attachment and detachment, each of said mats comprising a plurality of spaced parallel elements, the ends of said spaced parallel elements being connected by an outwardly facing channel. member through which they extend and project, the spaced parallel elements of one mat being adapted to extend into the channel of the next adjacent mat and occupy positions intermediate the spaced parallel elements thereof.

GERALD G. GREULICH.

members for the 1ongi-, 

